3 minute read

Premier trainer Scott Brunton has always had a good opinion of Bond Street Beau and while the four-year-old gelding took his time to break his maiden status over 1900m in Victoria eight weeks ago, the astute mentor believes the gelding is on his way to being a major cups horse.

Bond Street Beau scored a narrow but impressive win in a benchmark 68 over 1600m in Hobart two weeks ago and on Tuesday he steps up to 2100m in the Ladbrokes Mates Mode BM70 (race 1) at the same venue in what looks a very winnable race.

Scott Brunton has three of the six runners engaged and his partner Tegan Keys has another, but Brunton is confident Bond Street Beau is potentially the best stayer.

"Bond Street Beau showed us a bit when he ran (5th) in last season's Tasmanian Derby, so I sent him to Patrick Payne's (Victoria) for experience across the water and to try and win his maiden there, and then bring him back to see if he can measure up in the cups," Brunton said.

"Bond Street Beau is inexperienced compared to most of the others on Tuesday, but he is a horse on the way up and the others are in a race that is about where they are going to be come cups time, with the exception of the top weight (Creative Hero)."

One Lotto has had two starts for Keys this preparation for a first-up win over 1650m in Devonport and a last-start second to Bond Street Beau, so he looms as a genuine winning chance.

Creative Hero is a genuine stayer making his way back to a suitable distance and while the seven-year-old has earned top weight of 62kg, trainer Julie Richards has opted to book two kilogram-claiming apprentice Taylor Johnstone to lighten the impost.

Brunton also believes his handy sprinting mare Neutralize has improved since her last-start second to Jaja Chaboogie in a BM68 over 1100m and has the chance to turn the tables on that mare in the MacTas Properties BM68 over 1100m (race 3).

"Neutralize has found good form and when she missed the kick last start, we had to ride her from behind and she really found the line late, so we will try and ride her that way on Tuesday and we might get a result."

Jaja Chaboogie will also be ridden by Johnstone but even with her claim the mare will still carry 60kg and will be giving away six kilograms to Neutralize.

Pete Staples' Best Bets for Hobart:

• Race 1 – 3. Bond Street Beau
• Race 5 – 2. Just A Tribute